﻿This file 
01_ReadMe_The_Spiral_Locked_Letters_of_Elizabeth_I_and_Mary_Queen_of_Scots.txt
 was generated on 2021-11-30 by JANA DAMBROGIO and DANIEL STARZA SMITH.


GENERAL INFORMATION


1. Title of Dataset: 01 “ReadMe_The_Spiral_Locked_Letters_of_Elizabeth_I_and_Mary_Queen_of_Scots”
DOI: 10.23636/gyhc-b427, Harvard Dataverse.


2. Author Information 
        A. Principal Investigators (Letterlocking) Contact Information
                Name: Jana Dambrogio, Daniel Starza Smith, Jennifer Pellecchia (Unlocking History)
                Institution: Massachusetts Institute of Technology and King’s College London
                Addresses: 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Building 14-0513, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; and, English Department, King’s College London, Virginia Woolf Building 7.15, 22 Kingsway, London, WC2B 6LE, United Kingdom.
                Email: jld@mit.edu, daniel.s.smith@kcl.ac.uk, jpellecc@mit.edu


        B. Principal Investigators (early modern epistolary culture) Contact Information
                Name: Alison Wiggins
                Institution: University of Glasgow
                Address: 12 University Gardens, Glasgow G12 8QH, UK
                Email: Alison.Wiggins@glasgow.ac.uk 


        C. Principal Investigators (library curation and exhibitions) Contact Information
                Name: Andrea Clarke and Alan Bryson
                Institution: The British Library
                Address: 96 Euston Road, London, NW1 2DB, UK
                Email: Andrea.Clarke@bl.uk, Alan.Bryson@bl.uk 


D. Principal Investigators (images) Contact Information
                Name: Nicole Araya, Annie Dunn, Matthew Li, Jana Dambrogio
                Institution: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
                Address: 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Building 14-0513, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
                Email: via Jana Dambrogio as above 
                
3. Date of data collection (single date, range, approximate date): 
2013–2021. 


4. Geographic location of data collection: 
Austin, Texas, United States of America; Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America; Edinburgh, United Kingdom; Hatfield, United Kingdom; London, United Kingdom; Paris, France.


5. Information about funding sources that supported the collection of the data: 
J.D., D.S.S., J.P., A.D., M.L., and N.A. acknowledge two generous funding grants from The Seaver Institute (TSI) (2015–2017, 2019–2021), which fundamentally supported research on letterlocking for four years. J.D. acknowledges funding from MIT Libraries; the MIT Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP); The Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation; with thanks to Kaija Langley, Mary Hurley, Tess Olson, Emilie Hardman, Erin Stalberg, and MIT Office of Foundation Relations. A Sassoon Visiting Scholarship at the Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford in August 2016 enabled significant developments in this research; special thanks to Michelle Chew, Chris Fletcher, Alexandra Franklin, Andrew Honey, Mike Webb, and to Jeffrey Johnson and Greg Kneidel. D.S.S. acknowledges funding from three sources at King’s College London: the English Department; the International Collaboration Fund, Faculty of Arts and Humanities; and the King’s Undergraduate Research Fellow (KURF) scheme. A.W. acknowledges generous funding from the UK Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) during 2017-19 (Leadership Fellowship, Project Reference AH/P009735/1), which supported archival research and collaborations. A.C. and A.B. acknowledge The Sir John Ritblat Family Foundation’s sponsorship of the Elizabeth and Mary exhibition, with thanks to the John S. Cohen Foundation, and all supporters who wish to remain anonymous.




SHARING/ACCESS INFORMATION


1. Licenses/restrictions placed on the data: 
Digital images of collection items are reproduced and stored here by permission of the British Library, the Harry Ransom Center, MIT Libraries, the National Library of Scotland, Hatfield House, The National Archives, and the Musée de La Poste. They can be accessed for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons Attribution–NonCommercial 4.0 License. Permission for commercial use must be sought from the relevant institution.


Letterlocking instructional resources can be accessed for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons Attribution–NonCommercial 4.0 License. Permission for commercial use must be sought from the Unlocking History Research Group. 


Copyright © 2021-12-08 MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY. Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License except where otherwise noted.


2. Links to publications that cite or use the data: 
https://www.bl.uk/eblj/2021articles/article11.html


3. Links to other publicly accessible locations of the data: 
N/a.


4. Links/relationships to ancillary data sets: 
N/a.


5. Was data derived from another source?
No.


6. Recommended citation for this dataset: 


Dambrogio, Jana, Daniel Starza Smith, Jennifer Pellecchia, Alison Wiggins, Andrea Clarke, and Alan Bryson. Illustrations by Nicole Araya, Annie Dunn, and Matthew Li, ‘The Spiral-Locked Letters of Elizabeth I and Mary Queen of Scots’, The Electronic British Library Journal, vol. 11, https://www.bl.uk/eblj/2021articles/article11.html. 




DATA & FILE OVERVIEW


1. File/Dataset List: 


spiral_lock_fig_01.png
Figure 1
Photographic reproduction of a letter, unfolded, backlit, and landscape orientation, with text, letterlocking evidence, and repairs. 


spiral_lock_fig_02.png
Figure 2
Five vector drawings show steps for creating the margin fold and writing the letter.


spiral_lock_fig_03.png
Figure 3
Three vector drawings show steps for creasing the letter in half short-edge to short-edge and unfolding it.


spiral_lock_fig_04.png
Figure 4
Two vector drawings show steps for creasing the left long edge to the margin fold to slice out the lock-SA.


spiral_lock_fig_05.png
Figure 5
Four vector drawings show steps to slice out the spiral lock and unfold the left long edge.


spiral_lock_fig_06.png
Figure 6
Six vector drawings show steps for folding the substrate into a letterpacket while keeping the lock-SA flat.


spiral_lock_fig_07.png
Figure 7
Four vector drawings show steps for folding the substrate into a letterpacket and creating the first slit.


spiral_lock_fig_08.png
Figure 8
Four vector drawings show steps for passing the lock through the first slit. 


spiral_lock_fig_09.png
Figure 9
 Seven vector drawings show steps for making the second slit and passing the lock through it.


spiral_lock_fig_10.png
Figure 10
Twelve vector drawings show steps for making the third slit, passing the lock through it, and then tucking the lock tip away. 


spiral_lock_fig_11.png
Figure 11. 
 Four vector drawings show the spiral lock mechanism, the front and back of a locked letterpacket using this method, and a representation of an unfolded lock. Sections of the lock on these images are numbered 1-12 to show the different areas created by folding.


spiral_lock_fig_12.png
Figure 12
Two vector drawings show the spiral lock mechanism in cross-section, once by itself and once with the addition of sealing wax, a lock-O, and a papered seal. 


spiral_lock_fig_13.png
Figure 13
Two vector drawings show the  front and back of an unfolded spiral-locked letter in opened manifestation, portrait orientation, with manipulation evidence and lock remnants, drawing attention to the hole left where the lock-SA has been torn off during opening.


spiral_lock_fig_14.png
Figure 14
Two photographic reproductions of a letter in portrait orientation, front and back, show text and letterlocking manipulations, including a virtually intact lock-SA. 




spiral_lock_fig_15.png
Figure 15
Photographic reproduction of a letter in portrait orientation, labeled to show the lock, alongside a photograph of a detail of this letter and a diagram of the lock, marked up with numbers 1-12 to show how the different sections of the lock correspond. 


spiral_lock_fig_16.png
Figure 16
Two photographic reproductions of a letter in portrait orientation, front and back, show text and letterlocking manipulation evidence, with a hole indicating a missing lock.
 
spiral_lock_fig_17.png
Figure 17
Ten vector drawings show steps for making a letterpacket, including the addition of adhesive and pressing a seal-stamp into the adhesive.


spiral_lock_fig_18.png
Figure 18
 Two vector drawings show the spiral lock mechanism in cross-section, once with the addition of sealing wax, a lock-O, and a papered seal, and then showing the same again with all the details shown separated. 


spiral_lock_fig_19.png
Figure 19
Three photographic reproductions of a detail of a letter, marked up with visual overlays to show letterlocking manipulations. 


spiral_lock_fig_20.png
Figure 20
 A key to the different elements of the visual overlay used to show letterlocking manipulations, as follows: Fold (mountain fold) (red line made up of thin strokes); Fold (valley fold) (blue line made up of small boxes); Slit (short black line); Adhesive (circle made with a red wavy line); Lock-SA (light green box with darker green outline); Lock-O (grey-red box).


spiral_lock_fig_21.png
Figure 21
Three images, left, centre, and right. On the left is a photographic reproduction of a detail of a letter, marked up with a visual overlay to show letterlocking manipulations. In the centre is a vector drawing of a cross-section of a spiral locking mechanism. On the right is a diagram of a lock marked up with numbers to show the different sections of the lock.


spiral_lock_fig_22.png
Figure 22
Two photographic reproductions of a detail of a letter, marked up with a visual overlay to show letterlocking manipulations, drawing attention to the lock and adhesive. 


spiral_lock_fig_23.png
Figure 23
Three images. A photographic reproduction of a detail of a letter, marked up with a visual overlay to show letterlocking manipulations. A vector drawing of a cross-section of a spiral locking mechanism. On the right a vector drawing of a locked letter packet.


spiral_lock_fig_24.png
Figure 24
Two vector drawings of a detail of a lock. 


spiral_lock_fig_25.png
Figure 25
Three photographic reproductions of details of a letter.


spiral_lock_fig_26.png
Figure 26
Three photographic reproductions of details of a letter.


spiral_lock_fig_27.png
Figure 27
Two photographic reproductions of details of a letter, one marked up to show letterlocking manipulations, and an image of a coat of arms.


spiral_lock_fig_28.png
Figure 28
Two vector drawings show the front and back of an unfolded spiral-locked letter, drawing attention to the hole left where the lock-SA has been torn off during opening. 


spiral_lock_fig_29.png
Figure 29
Two photographic reproductions of a letter unfolded and landscape orientation, drawing attention to the hole left where the lock-SA has been torn off during opening.


spiral_lock_fig_30.png
Figure 30
Five photographic reproductions of details of letters, drawing attention to evidence of a lock-SA still attached to the letterpacket after opening. 


spiral_lock_fig_31.png
Figure 31
Two photographic reproductions of a letter unfolded and in landscape orientation. The first image shows the text, creases and wrinkles, and a repaired hole indicating a missing lock. The second image of the letter is backlit to show paper-making artifacts and repairs in more detail.


spiral_lock_fig_32.png
Figure 32
Photographic reproduction of a letter unfolded and landscape orientation, marked up with visual overlay to show letterlocking manipulations.


spiral_lock_fig_33.png
Figure 33
Two photographic reproductions of details of a letter, one marked up to show a pattern of five slits, labelled V-Z, with a possible sixth slit labelled with a question mark.


spiral_lock_fig_34.png
Figure 34
Two photographic reproductions of models of a letter, showing front with an address, and back. 


spiral_lock_fig_35.png
Figure 35
Four vector drawings show the five-slit spiral lock mechanism, the front and back of a locked letterpacket using this method, and a representation of an unfolded lock. Sections of the lock on these images are numbered 1-20 to show the different areas created by folding. 


spiral_lock_fig_36.png
Figure 36
Two photographic reproductions of a letter, front and back, portrait orientation, featuring text and details of repair.


spiral_lock_fig_37.png
Figure 37
Photographic reproduction of a letter featuring text, backlit to show laid lines, pot-shaped watermark, and evidence of repair, in portrait orientation.


spiral_lock_fig_38.png
Figure 38
Two photographic reproductions of details of a letter, one marked up to show three slits, labelled X, Y, and Z. 


spiral_lock_fig_39.png
Figure 39
Photographic reproduction of a detail of a letter, showing text, including a signature “Marie R,” and slits in close-up.


spiral_lock_fig_40.png
Figure 40
A vector drawing of two sheets of paper, each folded down the middle to create bifolia. One sheet lays on top of the other.


spiral_lock_fig_41.png
Figure 41
Photographic reproduction of a letter shows an address, early archival information, slits, folds, and evidence of a spiral lock.


spiral_lock_fig_42.png
Figure 42
Photographic reproductions of two images show the front and back of an opened bifolium letter sheet. The left image shows the last (address) and first pages of the letter. The right image shows the second and third pages of the letter. 


spiral_lock_fig_43.png
Figure 43
Photographic reproduction of a detail of a letter shows an outer address panel of a letterpacket. The panel has a slit in it to the left of the hand-written address.


spiral_lock_fig_44.png
Figure 44
Photographic reproduction of an opened bifolium letter, marked up to show letterlocking manipulations of mountain and valley creases, front and back of the folded letterpacket, and the spiral lock. 


spiral_lock_fig_45.png
Figure 45
Photographic reproduction of a detail of a letter shows a slit running along one edge. 


spiral_lock_fig_46.png
Figure 46
Two vector drawings show the front and back of a proposed reconstruction of a letterpacket, in which the spiral lock passes through the slit three times in the same direction, wrapping around one edge of the packet only.


spiral_lock_fig_47.png
Figure 47
Two vector drawings show the front and back of a proposed reconstruction of a letterpacket, in which the spiral lock passes through the slit three times, wrapping once around the long edge of the packet and twice around the fore-edge.


spiral_lock_fig_48.png
Figure 48
Two vector drawings show the front and back of a proposed reconstruction of a letterpacket, in which the spiral lock passes through the slit twice in a figure-of-eight loop, wrapping once around each long edge of the packet.


spiral_lock_fig_49.png
Figure 49
Twelve vector drawings show steps for making a spiral-locked letterpacket with the figure-of-eight locking mechanism.


spiral_lock_fig_50.png
Figure 50
Photographic reproduction of a detail of a letter shows a slit running along one edge, with a ruler showing that the slit is 10mm in length. 


spiral_lock_fig_51.png
Figure 51
Photographic reproduction of a detail of a letter shows a sword-shaped hole where the lock-SU was cut from. Some text on another leaf below is visible through the hole.


spiral_lock_fig_52.png
Figure 52
Photographic reproduction of a detail of a letter shows an address panel, folds, and a hole. 


spiral_lock_fig_53.png
Figure 53 
Creative Commons icon (double c surrounded by a circle) and creative commons Attribution- NonCommercial-NoDerivatives icon (person standing surrounded by circle).






2. Relationship between files, if important: 
N/a.


3. Additional related data collected that was not included in the current data package: 
N/a.


4. Are there multiple versions of the dataset? no




METHODOLOGICAL INFORMATION


1. Description of methods used for collection/generation of data: 
Please see Dambrogio, Smith, Pellecchia, et al, ‘The Spiral-Locked Letters of Elizabeth I and Mary Queen of Scots’, The Electronic British Library Journal, vol. 11.


2. Methods for processing the data: 


3. Instrument- or software-specific information needed to interpret the data: 


4. Standards and calibration information, if appropriate: 


5. Environmental/experimental conditions: 


6. Describe any quality-assurance procedures performed on the data: 


7. People involved with sample collection, processing, analysis and/or submission: